On Thursday, 23 July 2026 I attended estimates hearings in relation to the State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee and asked the Director General of the Department of Transport and Main Roads about this year's Active Transport Grants.
You can read our exchange below, or in the official Parliamentary record of proceedings here.
Mr BERKMAN: I want to put a question to the director-general on the Active Transport Grants Program, which has replaced the cycle network and walking local government grants programs. I understand those grants are usually announced in June, very shortly after the budget, but they have not been announced yet. Can you tell us what is the total amount allocated for this round of grants, and when will they be announced?
Ms Stannard: Sorry, I have just been handed the wrong brief, but I am sure my team are going to look for that brief that you have just asked me about because I do not have those statistics on this particular brief. I do have some information in my own folder. My apologies.
The department has allocated really significant investment into active transport because we are focused on expanding and making it really easy for people to walk or ride as part of their everyday travel. It includes making sure these choices work as standalone trips or as a component of a multimodal journey—for example, to access public transport. That is something that we are really focused on. If we continue to make it easier to combine walking and riding with public transport then our transport system can offer more flexibility and more efficient travel options. That will help address traffic congestion in some locations and support healthy lifestyle choices. I am sure you are aware of the benefits. We do build significant active transport infrastructure as part of some of our broader transport projects and through the implementation of the active transport infrastructure program. In the budget we have $312 million between 2026-27 and 2029-30 towards that grants program.
Mr BERKMAN: The second element of the question was: when will the grants be announced?
Ms Stannard: The minister has just reminded me that I have read out the total investment in active transport initiatives, not the investment in the grants program.
Mr BERKMAN: Yes.
Ms Stannard: That might have confused the member, so I am sorry for that. The grants total is $15 million, but I do not have the details of when that will be announced. I guess that is a matter for the government to determine when those announcements will be made.